A list of interesting facts about Zanzibar can be really long, as it is a distant place that until recently was almost unexplored by Western tourism. In your case, what does it evoke? What do you know about this tourist destination? Reading this article, you’ll likely be surprised by all that you didn’t know… and that you’ll surely want to discover on your next trip, if you want it to be more than just a getaway for relaxation and become a life-changing experience that will open your mind.
Which Country Does Zanzibar Belong to?
One of the first interesting facts about Zanzibar is that many travelers consider it a country. However, it is “only” a semi-autonomous insular region of Tanzania. The curious thing is that Zanzibar, to integrate into that country, was not a victim of conquest or war: it was a free agreement sealed in 1964 between the short-lived Republic of Zanzibar and the then state of Tanganyika, which from that moment changed its name to become Tanzania.
By the way: Zanzibar is an archipelago because it groups a couple of large islands and other scattered islets off the coast of Tanzania, in the Indian Ocean. These islands are Unguja (also often known as Zanzibar, being the main one) and Pemba, somewhat smaller and further north. Its population is around two million inhabitants.
A History with a Crossing of Cultures
Since 1964, Zanzibar’s fate has been tied to that of Tanzania. But until then, the history of this archipelago had been characterized by a continuous crossing of cultures, with coexistence not always peaceful. Its strategic position on the spice route made these islands a coveted territory, controlled by the Arabs until it came under Portuguese influence in the 16th century, a power in full commercial and territorial expansion.
After a brief domination by the Persians, it came back under Arab control, in this case under the sultanate of Oman in the 18th century, who not only promoted spice plantations but also developed the ivory trade. Unfortunately, the slave trade was also institutionalized, as we will explain next. In 1861, a first independence occurred, in this case to become the sultanate of Zanzibar, of Muslim religion, although from the end of the 19th century the British Empire exercised a strict protectorate, until the definitive independence in 1964, in a context of strong ethnic and religious struggles between Arabs and sub-Saharan Africans.
Epicenter of the Slave Trade
As we mentioned, the saddest episode in all of Zanzibar’s history is the institutionalization of slavery, mainly from the times of the Arab sultanate of Oman, with the connivance (and benefit) of Asian powers and, above all, European ones in full expansionist race. These powers considered these people as cheap labor, taking advantage of them in their territories of the so-called “new world”.
The epicenter of this slave trade was located in a market in Stone Town, the old district of Zanzibar City. And today it is the Zanzibar Slavery Museum, whose visit stirs consciences and is most impactful. One of the reasons why the visit is so moving is the exhibition of black and white photographs of chained slaves (like the sculptural group outside): these images tell us that this slave practice was common until relatively recently (official abolition in 1873), when photography was already a widespread technology in advanced societies, which may have contributed to the British Empire pressuring the Omani sultanate for its definitive eradication.
The Homeland of Freddie Mercury…
Of all the curiosities of Zanzibar, this is perhaps the most surprising. Freddie Mercury, whom everyone associates with Great Britain due to his nationality and success in the British Isles, was born in Zanzibar, strange as it may seem, when the island was a sultanate under British protectorate. And here he spent the first years of his life, with a brief interlude to attend a British boarding school in India, where his parents, of Indian Parsi origin and Zoroastrian religion, sent him. A cultural mix that undoubtedly enriched this natural musical talent.
He was born in a house in Stone Town, the old district of the capital (which is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO), in 1946, and eight years later he headed to Bombay for his musical education. He returned to Stone Town in 1964, but his family had to emigrate due to the ethnic and social conflict of the Zanzibar Revolution, which also caused the exile of other important personalities. It was then that he landed in Middlesex to continue his career and achieve stardom with the band Queen.
Although his stay in Stone Town was less than a decade, this city prides itself on having been the homeland of this universal musician because, after all, the years of childhood are always the most magical of life. In fact, in the place where his first house stood, the Freddie Mercury Museum has been set up, where countless photographs, documents, and objects about the life and career of this musician are exhibited, including those from his childhood in Zanzibar.
… And a Nobel Prize in Literature
As we said, the Zanzibar Revolution motivated the exile of Freddie Mercury and his family, as well as many other personalities. That is what happened with the other great celebrity from Zanzibar: Abdulrazak Gurnah, Nobel Prize in Literature in 2021. And in the case of this writer, the ethnic and social conflict of the sixties (he emigrated in 1968) was even more decisive in his worldview, as his novels distill reflection on the traumas of refugees, as well as a critical view of the imperialist vocation of the great powers.
Zanzibar Red Colobus: a Unique Primate
An iconic inhabitant that, fortunately, has not emigrated from its native island (Unguja) is the Zanzibar red colobus (Piliocolobus kirkii), an endemic primate species threatened with extinction. It is believed that its population in the wild does not exceed 3,000 individuals, all of them in the forests of the main island of Zanzibar, although specimens have also been introduced on Pemba. The place with the highest concentration is the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park.
This primate, which does not exceed 70 cm in height, is characterized by abundant fur, in black, white, and red tones. Its behavior is very social, and although its natural habitat is in the trees, in agricultural areas they can be seen in contact with humans, so it’s possible that you might see them in person during your trip.
In any case, these are just some of the many curiosities about Zanzibar that can surprise you before and during your trip. But there are many more waiting for you here, which you can discover at your own pace, as your stay on the island will surely be planned as a relaxing vacation. If you contact us, we will help you plan your program and activities to make the most of your time, whether you prioritize rest, leisure activities, or cultural visits to Stone Town and other points of interest.
